Gotha 2.0

Gotha 2.0.

Overview
The Arvorian Democratic Republic, or ADR for short, is a country located in northwestern D'Runia. It is the first and oldest socialist nation-state on Gotha. The nation is also considered the birthplace of the ideology.

The people, who have been known as "Arvorians" for over five centuries, were originally native to the Ashamas Highlands of eastern Tharna. At that time in their history, they were a nomadic people, expulsed from their native land by the Tahana after an ethnic cleansing forced the survivors out. It is believed they first crossed the Straits of Afti into western Anaria in the early 68th century, residing briefly on the eastern shores of the Tashgur Channel in the plains west of the North Bhazen Mountains, before eventually crossing the Western Straits into Thultannia, and reaching Hallis by the mid-69th century. They lived in that country as a minority group for the next 339 years, forming their own communities in towns and cities typically in the mountains on the Chessex coast.

During that time, they gradually picked up the Hallish language and even took to giving their children Hallish names. Even though they had assimilated to a large degree, a new government in the late 7190s began contemplating a way to rid themselves of various minority groups, who were seen as potential trouble. When the first explorer ships returned from an expedition to D'Runia in the autumn of 7197 with reports on the conditions there, the government drew up a scheme to entice the Arvorians to leave, offering them a chance to build a new home for themselves in a new land, where they would be able to finally be "masters of their own destinty once more". Having always felt somewhat out of place, the Arvorians took up the offer. The first nine ships would ultimately set out from ports along the Chessex coast in the first weeks of 7202 CE, arriving nearly three months later. Over the course of the year, the rest of their people would join them, totaling nearly 50,000 people in all.

The Arvorians left Ashamas in 6704 CE, arrived in Hallis in 6863 CE, and then left Hallis in 7202 CE.

The current nation was established on New Years 7581 following the Autumn Revolution which had begun in late 7579.

The capital and third-largest city of the ADR is Basinford (population 6.1 million). The largest city in the nation is Portmore (population 9.6 million). At present date, the national population is 230 million.

The nation has two mottos - Freedom, Democracy, Progress and Labour is entitled to all it creates.

Politics
The government of Arvor is unitary. All policy and directives flow from the central government to the provincial, district, and municipal leadership, who put these decisions into effect for their area.

President
The President of Arvor is head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Arvor (AFA). They have some political powers and extensive ceremonial ones. They are elected by direct universal suffrage to a single seven-year term using the two-round system.

Premier
The Premier of Arvor is head of government. They are nominated and elected by their fellow deputies from among the membership of the legislature to a five-year term, renewable once, using the two-round system.

Cabinet
The Cabinet is the top decision-making body of the government. It is made up of numerous secretaries of state who are responsible for managing the affairs of the government departments. Each member is nominated by the Premier and approved by the Congress. It consists, at current date, of the following departments - foreign affairs, defence, home affairs, justice, the exchequer, health, education, the economy, work and wages, energy, infrastructure, culture, agriculture, international trade, social security, conservation, and transport.

Congress of People's Deputies
The Congress of People's Deputies is the national unicameral legislature. It has 864 members known as deputies. They are elected by direct universal suffrage with a two-round system by constituency, for a five-year mandate, subject to dissolution. Deputies are not term limited. All deputies stand for election (or re-election) every five years in each general election.

Supreme Court
The highest court in the nation, with final appellate jurisdiction over all other levels of the judiciary - circuit, provincial, district, and municipal courts. Its membership consists of nine members - a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices, all of whom are nominated by the Premier, approved by the Congress, and sworn in by the President. Their term lasts until they’ve served 25 years as a justice or they turn 75, whichever happens first.

Local
All provinces are led by a People's Council, all districts are led by a People's Commission, and all municipalities are led by a People's Committee. The members of these bodies are elected by direct universal suffrage to five-year terms, renewable once, using the two-round system.

State firms
The People's Government maintains significant holdings in several key industries nationally, in the form of state statutory corporations. At present, these include: the Arvorian Broadcasting Corporation, Arvorian Chemical Corporation, Arvorian Fuel Coporation, and Arvorian Steel Corporation.

Military
The Armed Forces of Arvor (AFA) consist of four armed branches and four support branches. The President is Commander-in-Chief, while the Premier exercises day-to-day control over military operations. Management of operations is the responsibility of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, which consists of the uniformed chiefs of each branch, who also serve to provide advice on military matters to the political leadership.

Determining and setting overall military policy and directing the armed forces is the responsibility of the Defence Council, which consists of the premier, the secretary of state for defence, and the members of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

People's Air Force
Responsible for aerial warfare and defence. The PAF's uniformed leader is the Chief of the Air Staff.

Aircraft used are the F-7c Prowler interceptor (Northrop F-20 Tigershark fighter-interceptor), F-9 Meteor multirole fighter (Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter), FA-3a Shrike close support fighter (Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II close support attack craft), and the B-17 Victor bomber (Rockwell B-1 Lancer supersonic bomber)

Flag ranks include General of the Air Force (honourary/wartime only), General, Lieutenant General, Major General, and Brigadier. Line ranks include Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Senior Lieutenant, Lieutenant, and Junior Lieutenant. Enlisted/noncommissioned ranks include Sergeant Major, Master Sergeant, Colour Sergeant, Senior Sergeant, Sergeant, Corporal, Lance Corporal, and Trooper.

People's Army
Responsible for ground warfare and defence. The PA's uniformed leader is the Chief of the General Staff.

Equipment used includes the Defender-3 main battle tank (T-90 tank), TD-22 Warrior tank destroyer (B1 Centauro tank destroyer), Boxer armoured combat vehicle (Warrior tracked armoured vehicle), APC-17a Ranger armoured personnel carrier (BTR-80 armoured personnel carrier), CM-04 Hunter armoured multipurpose vehicle (GAZ Tigr armoured multipurpose vehicle), LMV-5 Warlock light military vehicle (Land Rover Wolf light millitary vehicle), MG-3c Sweeper motorised AA vehicle (2K22 Tunguska motorised AA system), M59 155mm motorised howitzer (2S35 Koalitsiya-SV), M51 155mm towed howitzer (M1955 D-20 155mm towed howitzer), L118 105mm towed howitzer (L118 light gun 105mm towed howitzer),

Flag ranks include General of the Army (honourary/wartime only), General, Lieutenant General, Major General, and Brigadier. Line ranks include Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Senior Lieutenant, Lieutenant, and Junior Lieutenant. Enlisted/noncommissioned ranks include Sergeant Major, Master Sergeant, Colour Sergeant, Senior Sergeant, Sergeant, Corporal, Lance Corporal, and Trooper.

People's Marines
Responsible for expeditionary and amphibious warfare. The PM's uniformed leader is the Commandant General.

Equipment used includes the Boxer armoured combat vehicle (Warrior tracked armoured vehicle), APC-17a Ranger armoured personnel carrier (BTR-80 armoured personnel carrier), CM-04 Hunter armoured multipurpose vehicle (GAZ Tigr armoured multipurpose vehicle), LMV-5 Warlock light military vehicle (Land Rover Wolf light millitary vehicle), MG-3c Sweeper motorised AA vehicle (2K22 Tunguska motorised AA system), M51 155mm towed howitzer (M1955 D-20 155mm towed howitzer), L118 105mm towed howitzer (L118 light gun 105mm towed howitzer)

Flag ranks include General, Lieutenant General, Major General, and Brigadier. Line ranks include Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Senior Lieutenant, Lieutenant, and Junior Lieutenant. Enlisted/noncommissioned ranks include Sergeant Major, Master Sergeant, Colour Sergeant, Senior Sergeant, Sergeant, Corporal, Lance Corporal, and Trooper.

People's Navy
Responsible for maritime warfare and defence. The PN's uniformed leader is the Chief of Naval Staff.

Ships used include the Peremptory-class carrier (French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle), Type 14 destroyer (Type 42 destroyer), Type 20 frigate (Type 23 frigate), Ranger-class patrol ship (Castle-class patrol vessel), Argentweald-class landing ship (Albion-class landing platform dock).

Flag ranks include Admiral of the Fleet (honourary/wartime only), Admiral, Squadron Admiral, Division Admiral, and Counter Admiral. Line ranks include Captain, Captain-Lieutenant, Commander, Senior Lieutenant, Lieutenant, and Junior Lieutenant. Enlisted/noncommissioned ranks include Senior Chief Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer, Senior Petty Officer, Petty Officer, Leading Rate, Senior Rate, Able Rate, and Junior Rate.

Support branches
The support branches are the Defence Facilities Service (DFS), responsible for construction and maintenance of military facilities; Defence Intelligence Service (DIS), responsible for military intelligence;  Defence Logistics Service (DLS), responsible for quartermaster and supply; and the Defence Medical Service (DMS), responsible for providing all medical, surgical, dental, and optical care to active duty personel.

Nuclear weapons
The ADR is a nuclear-weapon state (NWS) with both strategic and tactical capabilities. At present, its strategic arsenal consists of the Lancer-IV ICBM (79k lbs/36k kg, 53ft/16m tall, 5.5ft/1.7m diameter, 10 W87 MIRV warheads w/ 450kt yield, range 8,100mi/13k km, air burst or contact, 150 active, Minuteman III ICBM) and the Typhoon-II SLBM (73k lbs/33k kg, 33ft/10m tall, 71in/1.8m diameter, 8 W87 MIRV warheads w/ 450kt yield, range 4,600mi/7,400k km, air burst or contact, 288 active, Trident II SLBM). The B83 gravity bomb serves as an intermediate yield tactical and strategic weapon (715lb/324 kg, 141.6 in/3.6m tall, 13.3in/34cm diameter, 300kt yield, 2,500 active, B61 nuclear bomb).

Model
The nation has a consumer socialist economy. It is the largest economy in D'Runia and a prominent player on the world economic stage. Some sectors are more strictly regulated than others, but in ways designed to protect consumer well-being, preserve safety and ensure quality. Most domestic firms are cooperatively owned, all subject to the same regulations and standards. Emphasis is placed on the availability of goods and services, and the country boasts a wide array of both which are available for its citizens.

Currency
The currency of the ADR is the pound sterling, which uses the symbol £. The Central Bank of Arvor issues notes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. £1 and £2 coins are used in lieu of paper notes. The pound sterling divides into 100 pennies (pence) in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 pence in circulation. The CBoA sets the value of the pound sterling based on a currency band influenced by various international market data sources.

Energy
The ADR's power grid is sustained by a combination of nuclear, solar, and hydro. While naval vessels are nuclear powered, aircraft and vehicles operate on biodiesel or fission thermoelectric batteries. Biodiesel allows vehicles to drive an average of 20.832 kilometres per litre (49 miles per gallon). A non-toxic organic anti-coagulant added to the fuel allows it to be used in the country's colder northern provinces. Homes are heated using infrared panels, which are typically wall mounted. Cooking is done via induction cooktops and convection ovens.

Wages and earnings
All working citizens in the ADR are guaranteed a living wage by law. Typically, firms pay their personnel weekly, in the form of a paynote. It will come in an envelope alongside a deduction slip which details the amounts taken from the person's wages for taxation. These taxes are - Income Tax (which funds general programmes and needs), National Health (which funds the NHA), and National Insurance (which funds the OAP and welfare programmes).

Capital
The capital city of the ADR is Basinford (population 6.1 million). It is the seat of the People's Government and all central institutions of state. Among its points of interest are the Palace of Congresses, the Arsenal, Pettiford Circus, and Emporia.

Municipalities

 * Capital - Basinford
 * Major cities - Alnerwick, Ellingstone, Portmore, Rockfleet
 * Other cities - Bridgepour, Highgarden, Maidenpool
 * Towns - Blackbuckle, Burning Mill, Crossed Elms, Fairmarket, Fieldstone, Honeytree, Raventree, Stokeworth, Stonehedge, Wendish
 * Villages - Goldthorpe, Little Upton, Lower Pampling, Woodhedge

Calendar
The local telling of time in Arvor measures the time that has passed since the first explorers landed on the shores of what is now Arvor in the year 7202 CE. The current year (7690 CE) is 488 on the Arvorian calendar, or 488 a.L. (after Landing).

The calendar is divided into 8.5 months of 43 days each. Each one is named for a different period in what Arvorian history remembers as the "First Year". The months are - The Departure, The Journey, The Arrival, The Exploration, The Groundbreaking, The Golden Moon, The First Harvest, The Fundament, and The Starry Night.

Education
Arvor has a very rigorous and high-quality education system. Children attend reception at age five, and then attend general education from age six to sixteen, for a total of eleven years. Extensive focus on STEM subjects, application of practical learning, lots of hands-on activities, but no high-stakes tests and not much "homework". The higher performing students work together with underperforming students to improve their scores and help them with their studies. Literacy is universal in the ADR.

The first two years of university are free, but the metrics required to go to university are quite high. Beyond those first two years, scholarships or family support pays for the rest of it. University is attended in two-year blocks, each of which corresponds to a stage in their tertiary education - two years each for an associate degree, specialist degree, licentiate degree, and doctorate degree. Those who don't go to university go to polytechnic, where they can learn a wide range of trade skills - welding, auto mechanics, glass working, electrical work, plumbing, construction, culinary arts, medical or dental assisting, and others.

The various unions offer programmes to pay for the polytechnic education of their new members, after which they take a small part of their weekly pay packet for the next few years to repay it. But the new union member has the benefit of the job placement system of said union to help them find a position.

Those who go to university are the doctors, surgeons, solicitors, engineers, and the like.

National Rail
A high-speed maglev train network known as National Rail connects every major city, large town, and international airport in the ADR.

National Roads
Also known as the M roads, the network of motorways known as National Roads are a network of roads which, like National Rail, connect all major cities and large towns in the Republic. Universally, the M roads are six-lanes - dual carriageways with three lanes going in both directions.

The Capital
The capital of the ADR is the city of Leesoft, which has a population of 6.1 million. Points of interest within the capital include - the Palace of Congresses, the Palace of State, the Arsenal, Senate Square, Admiralty House, Arvendon Fortress, the National Botanical Gardens, Pettiford Circus, Emporia, and the GUM (Grandy's Universal Merchandising) department store.

Socialism
A nation with a thriving consumer socialist economy would likely have an ideology that combines elements of socialism and consumerism. While the specific ideology may vary, it would generally promote the principles of economic equality, social welfare, and individual empowerment through consumer choice. Here's a possible description of the ideology:

Consumer Socialism
This ideology emphasizes the importance of both collective ownership and individual consumption. It recognizes that a strong and vibrant economy can be achieved through a balance between collective control of key industries and individual purchasing power. The goal is to create a system where everyone has access to essential goods and services while also enjoying the freedom to make choices based on personal preferences.

Economic Equality
The ideology would prioritize reducing wealth disparities and ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities to access goods and services. It would advocate for a fair distribution of wealth and income, with measures in place to address social and economic inequalities. This might include progressive taxation, robust social safety nets, and policies that promote equal access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.

Social Welfare
The ideology would place a strong emphasis on social welfare programs designed to protect and support citizens. Universal healthcare, affordable housing, quality education, and comprehensive social security systems would be integral components. The government would take an active role in providing these services, ensuring that all citizens have a basic standard of living and access to essential resources.

Democratic Governance
The ideology would promote democratic principles and citizen participation in decision-making processes. It would emphasize the importance of accountable and transparent governance, where citizens have the ability to influence economic policies and have a say in shaping their society. This might include mechanisms such as participatory budgeting, worker cooperatives, and citizen assemblies.

Sustainable Development
The ideology would recognize the importance of environmental sustainability and responsible resource management. It would encourage a shift towards renewable energy sources, eco-friendly production methods, and conservation efforts. The aim would be to achieve economic growth while minimizing environmental impact and ensuring intergenerational equity.

Market Mechanisms
Consumer socialism would acknowledge the role of market forces in facilitating economic growth and meeting consumer demands. However, it would also prioritize the regulation and oversight of markets to prevent monopolistic practices, exploitation, and unfair competition. The government would play an active role in setting regulations and ensuring that market outcomes align with societal goals.